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| Nico Rosberg (photo: Mercedes AMG F1) |
Not really much in the way of highlights on track in Monaco, the real battle was the mental one.
More than just staying in front, what Rosberg was able to do was turn Hamilton mind games against him.
For all his undoubted talent, Hamilton has a fatal flaw: he often misses the opportunity to keep quiet. So, despite his advantage coming into the race in Monaco, he had felt the need to more or less knock Rosberg in the media: how he should dominate Nico. How Nico was born privileged among yachts and hotels while he was born poor and had to sleep on couches (never mind his having a motorsports career nurtured by Ron Dennis since age 12).
Rosberg made his jujitsu move Saturday and Hamilton began to unravel, culminating in that veiled threat to pull "a Senna" on Rosberg.
In reality Rosberg had the measure of Hamilton all week end, Lewis was never faster and ended up losing his cool during the race, blaming the team for not bringing him in just before the second safety car. Later in the race Lewis continued to exchange tense messages with his pit. Finally that bizarre episode with something hitting him in the eye. After the race, the two did not exchange any words or shake hands.It's not inconceivable that soon we will hear accusations Mercedes is favoring Rosberg because he's German but curious Hamilton was the first to break ranks by using extra power to stay ahead of Nico in Spain.
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| Kimi Raikkonen (Photo: Ferrari) |
As for the rest, a real shame Raikkonen's race got destroyed by Max Chilton who somehow managed to run into him during the second safety car, puncturing a tire on the Ferrari.
If Chilton was the pits, Jules Bianchi was the star managing to finish eighth and giving Marussia their first points.
Not a good race for Renault power with Vettel out early and trouble at Toro Rosso and Lotus... though one might suspect Lotus faked a failure on Maldonado's car as a preemptive cost saving measure.
Pos Driver Team/Car Time/Gap
1. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1h49m27.661s
2. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +9.210s
3. Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull-Renault +9.614s
4. Fernando Alonso Ferrari +32.452s
5. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes -1 lap
6. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes -1 lap
7. Felipe Massa Williams-Mercedes -1 lap
8. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault -1 lap
9. Jules Bianchi Marussia-Ferrari -1 lap
10. Kevin Magnussen McLaren-Mercedes -1 lap
11. Marcus Ericsson Caterham-Renault -1 lap
12. Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari -1 lap
13. Kamui Kobayashi Caterham-Renault -3 laps
14. Max Chilton Marussia-Ferrari -3 laps
Retirements:
Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari 59 laps
Valtteri Bottas Williams-Mercedes 55 laps
Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Renault 50 laps
Adrian Sutil Sauber-Ferrari 23 laps
Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso-Renault 10 laps
Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 5 laps
Sergio Perez Force India-Mercedes 0 laps
Pastor Maldonado Lotus-Renault 0 laps
Drivers' championship: Pos Driver Points 1. Nico Rosberg 122 2. Lewis Hamilton 118 3. Fernando Alonso 61 4. Daniel Ricciardo 54 5. Nico Hulkenberg 47 6. Sebastian Vettel 45 7. Valtteri Bottas 34 8. Jenson Button 31 9. Kevin Magnussen 21 10. Sergio Perez 20 11. Felipe Massa 18 12. Kimi Raikkonen 17 13. Romain Grosjean 8 14. Jean-Eric Vergne 4 15. Daniil Kvyat 4 16. Jules Bianchi 2 Constructors' championship: Pos Team Points 1. Mercedes 240 2. Red Bull-Renault 99 3. Ferrari 78 4. Force India-Mercedes 67 5. McLaren-Mercedes 52 6. Williams-Mercedes 52 7. Lotus-Renault 8 8. Toro Rosso-Renault 8 9. Marussia-Ferrari 2 10. Sauber-Ferrari 0 11. Caterham-Renault 0
At least this year there's a clear battle between the top team drivers even as they dominate the field overall. I think Montreal will start shaking things up as all the real work will be on the aero package updates for the faster part of the season, with the williams and SFI to chase Ferrari and rbr up the order. Predictable but fun to watch the details play out. The season is Hamilton's to lose - maybe he'll keep it together this time..
ReplyDeleteThis season is already a record breaker. I can't wait for the rest of it.
Think Montreal will be Mercedes power advantage, I am not chocked over the advantage they have (engine unit wise anyway) cause Mercedes have built turbo engines with superior torque for over a decade now, I mean when did S class come out with 1000nm of torque while competitors where stuck at about half that figure, they even limited some to 1k cause the massive 1200nm they could produce was too much for the gearbox to handle especially the back then brand spanking new 7 speed´s.
ReplyDeleteGood point regarding aero package, will make a difference as well, think RB will be at Merc level or above but Renault power units will def stop them in their tracks. Think Ferrari will be beaten by both teams mentioned above for rest of the season? I was so dissapointed at new Ferrari head I mean why him, go shop internationally and forget about the silly dream about a fully Italian team winning not gonna happen, politics destroying the red team from withing me think.
Great video, thanks.
ReplyDeleteAs for "not have to hear these two complaining about each other all season": I'm kind of enjoying it! Anyway, in a year when one car is so dominant, isn't it great to have the two drivers going at it hammer & tongs.
Anyone else notice how many buttons Kimi has to push to get reverse? I can't imagine having the presence of mind to do all that in that situation. But I guess I'm a different category of human being.
Don't forget to overlook that fact that Nico was the first to use a different engine setting in his attempt to beat Lewis the Bahrain. In Spain Lewis returned the favor.
ReplyDeleteRosberg was the first to use the forbidden engine map in Bahrain and Hamilton did the same in Spain.
ReplyDeletehttp://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/160127.html
Williams was a bit of a letdown in Monaco wasn't it?
ReplyDeleteWell, having a "British" team is not helping Mclaren much...
ReplyDeleteNow that Nico had a bit of comeuppance it is time for Lewis to shatter Sebastian's ten win streak and dominate the season.
ReplyDeleteI hate saying that because I still have not forgiven him giving Sebastian that ball sweat handshale last year.
Lewis just needs to stay calm, trust his ability, and stay focused. He'll eat little Nico's lunch. Nico got away with one on the sly this past weekend. If Nico had truly lost control of the car he would have planted it right into that green Rolex sign...but he didn't. He ever so clearly, gingerly, neatly placed it perfectly in the runoff area. Of course the stewards are gonna say Nico did nothing wrong. The governing body wants tv rating. That's okay though. $20 says at the next race Rosco sneaks into the Merc garage and pinches off a couple of logs into Nico's Schuberth. F1 2014----THE YEAR OF LEWIS!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYeah that was a bit of bad luck for them all around but if they can manage to keep form on the faster tracks they could sneak right up between RBR and Ferrari - since Mclaren has been asleep at the wheel someone has to get it to them.
ReplyDelete*YAWN*
ReplyDeletehehe true but it sure seam to be helping Merc and even RB who both located on the island despite being of other nationalities on paper cause of the knowledge, personal, partners etc located there.
ReplyDeleteBritain just happen to have lots of F1 people whether engines or other type of people but it´s a international sport so why limit yourself and Ferrari seam so stuck in their never ending politics and what I truly believe is a dream of theirs to be Italian as much as possible. When you visit Maranello you get a feel of the dream of a Italian prancing horse is only strengthen imho, they are very proud and nationalistic. When you walk there and almost driven over by a Ferrari passing you at high speed they don´t get pissed for almost being run over, no instead they actually applaud it and raise their hands in the air celebrating hehe
So right Onerunjunior...... AC You're completely in accurate in your view of the story. #Insane
ReplyDeleteAC is a well known Lewis hater. He's always down on him for anything he can possibly fine, and he's always particularly snarky when it comes to anything he does. He's perfectly entitled to his opinion, but he's very obviously taking yet another chance to attack Lewis. If it were Alonso acting like this he wouldn't be so harsh. I love AC to death, this site is awesome, but to deny that AC doesn't take every opportunity to hate on Lewis is ignoring reality.
ReplyDeletewhat do you feel is inaccurate?
ReplyDeleteNothing, and I never said you were making anything up so I don't understand why you ask. I respect your opinion, and this site is fantastic but I think you're far too harsh on Lewis every time you get a chance to be and blatantly biased.
ReplyDeleteYou cannot possibly possibly deny Lewis acted like a bit of petulant kid in Monaco! :)
ReplyDeletePeter windsor said today( just watched the canadian g.p.) He said MOST PEOPLE IN THE MERCEDES GARAGE KNOW NICO WENT OFF ON PURPOSE,but they cant prove it.
ReplyDeleteSo maybe LEWIS WAS RIGHT How about that.
I also predicted its in my comments on youtube that LEWIS was gonna have to retire from the powert thing today and,nico would CARRY ON TO VICTORY. thats what happened.Sorry,he managed to hold on for second.Gee, what a miracle.DIDNT SEE THAT ONE COMING. This season stinks of collusion and,backroom dealings.
I am starting to wonder the origins of ALL OF THIS HAMILTON HATRED IN F1.
I think i know the cause,I JUST DONT UNDERSTAND IT REALLY.
Love of fernando,kimi,sebastian,felipe,nico h. and,now nico r. and,others.
but it seems as though if lewis crashed a lot of folks would cheer.I dont get it.